Air Force Academy

July 12, 2012

Air Force men's soccer coach Doug Hill has announced the 13 players that make up another strong recruiting class for the Academy. Three of the recruits come in from the AFA Prep school while seven have played on U.S. Soccer Development Academy teams. Members of the Class of 2016 come from 10 different states.

"We have another very solid recruiting class and will look for some of the freshmen to get to game speed and contribute immediately," said Hill. "I know some will adapt very quickly and will see minutes early adding to our team depth. We are excited to have such fine men join our soccer family, and in time, become our future leaders of our country."

Connor Dunbaker
Year: Freshman
Height: 5-8
Weight: 150
Position: Forward
Hometown: Columbia, SC
High School: Irmo HS

Before Air Force
ODP: Played for the South Carolina Olympic Development Program for three years.

US Soccer Academy: Played for the South Carolina FC Academy for three seasons ... head coach was Clark Brisson.

Club: Played for South Carolina United Futbol Club for three years ... team MVP ... U14 state challenge champions in 2008 ... coach was Rob Strickland.

High School: Three-year letterwinner in soccer ... team captain and Region IV Player of the Year as a senior ... two-time all-state selection ... led team to runner-up finish at state championships as a sophomore and junior ... led team in scoring all three seasons ... named to NSCAA High School Boys All-Region III team as a junior ... MVP and team captain of the North team in the North/South All-Star Classic as a senior ... member of National Honor Society ... high school soccer coach was Phil Savitz.

Coach Hill's Comments:
Connor joins the Falcon soccer program from Columbia, S.C., where he was the leading goal scorer for the South Carolina United FC Academy and his high school. We are expecting him to continue his scoring success over the next four years and he will be a leader on and off the field for us.

Joey Haug
Year: Freshman
Height: 5-6
Weight: 150
Position: Midfielder
Hometown: Rocklin, CA
High School: Rocklin HS

Before Air Force
ODP: Played for the NorCal Olympic Development Program for two years ... coach was Adriano Allain.

US Soccer Academy: Played two years for the California Development Academy ... coaches were Marcos Mercado and Paul O'Brien.

Club: Played club soccer for six years ... played two years for the Pacific Soccer Academy and coach Franco Benevento ... also played two years for Jason Gantt and Pacer United ... won the NorCal State Cup in 2009 and state cup runner-up in 2010 with Placer United.

High School: Three-year letterwinner in soccer ... three-time team captain ... led team to sectional championship as a sophomore ... second-team all-league as a junior ... member of National Honor Society and Honor Guard ... high school soccer coach was Grant Depue.

Coach Hill's Comments:
Joey is a very technical and competitive player. He played for California Development Academy Teams with a high level of competition. He is very comfortable on the ball and a natural leader on the field. We expect him to compete for a starting position and be one of the freshmen to get playing time this year.

Zach Hill
Year: Freshman
Height: 6-0
Weight: 155
Position: Forward
Hometown: Rollinsford, NH
High School: Somersworth HS

Before Air Force
ODP: Played for the New Hampshire Olympic Development Program for four years ... coach was Tom Johnson.

Club: Played for Seacoast United Soccer Club for four years ... coach was Dave DeCew.

High School: Four-year letterwinner in soccer ... also played basketball and ran track ... first-team all-state selection for soccer as a senior ... team MVP as a sophomore and senior ... team captain for soccer and track ... second-team all-state as a junior ... member of National Technical Honors Society and NHIAA scholar athlete ... high school soccer coach was Matthew Carrington.

Coach Hill's Comments:
Zach comes to us from New Hampshire where he was the leading scorer and MVP during his junior and senior year for his high school and a standout for a strong Seacoast United SC. He has the ability to put the ball in the back of the net and once he gets use to the speed of play and physical game will compete well at the D-1 level. I see Zach as a program player that will develop well in our system and become a strong player up top or on the outside left for us.

Marcus Hoof
Year: Freshman
Height: 5-8
Weight: 150
Position: Midfielder
Hometown: Plymouth, MN
High School: Wayzata HS

Before Air Force
Club: Played for the Minnesota Thunder Academy for five years ... team captain ... advanced to the finals of the 2010 Disney College Showcase ... league champions from 2008-11 ... head coach was Lev Buslovich.

High School: Four-year letterwinner in soccer ... two-time all-conference selection ... two-time team captain ... led team to three sectional runner-up finishes and one state runner-up finish ... earned AP Scholar Award ... high school soccer coach was Dominic Duanas.

Coach Hill's Comments:
Marcus played for the Minnesota Thunder Academy and is a player that can cover a lot of ground in the back or defensive midfield. He is comfortable on the ball and work rate will provide us with some depth on our experienced back line, and also stability in the years to come.

Brian Hoxie
Year: Freshman
Height: 6-1
Weight: 180
Position: Goalkeeper
Hometown: Trinity, FL
High School: Mitchell HS

Before Air Force
ODP: Played for the Florida ODP state team in 2010-11 ... selected to a travel squad that was scheduled to play in Argentina, the trip was cancelled due to political unrest ... super Y national selection in 2010 and '12 ... invited to train with the U.S. Soccer National Team coaches in 2011.

Club: Played for Tampa Bay United from 2008-12 ... team captain ... advanced to the semis of the state cup in 2012 ... head coach was Gregg Emmerman.

High School: Three-year letterwinner in soccer ... also played football and baseball ... helped soccer team to class 4A state championship as a sophomore ... two-time all-conference selection ... two-time all-district pick ... named team defensive MVP and team captain as a senior ... member of National Honor Society and graduated Magna Cum Laude ... high school soccer coach was Oscar Ubilus.

Coach Hill's Comments:
Brian joins us as a standout and National Pool goalkeeper from the Tampa area. Highly recruited on the east coast, we are excited Brian chose to come west, and we are expecting great things from him in the next four years as he will be competing right away for the goalkeeper position.

Ryan Keeney
Year: Freshman
Height: 6-0
Weight: 157
Position: Defender
Hometown: Coronado, CA
High School: Coronado HS

Before Air Force
Club: Played for Nado Select Premiere team ... team captain for three years ... won the Crown City Classic, Cerritos Cup and Nomads Invitational ... advanced to quarterfinals of Southern Califonia National Cup.

High School: Four-year letterwinner in soccer ... also ran cross country and track and played baseball ... two-time first-team all-league selection in soccer ... Division IV Player of the Year as a senior ... led team to two CIF Championships ... three-time state qualifier in cross country ... named Union-Tribune all-academic student-athlete for two years ... high school soccer coach was Brian Hiatt-Aleu.

Coach Hill's Comments:
Ryan played in the San Diego area for NADO Select and is a workhorse in the midfield and back. He is very athletic and reads the game well. Once he adjusts to the speed and physical play of the college game he will contribute greatly to the program

Ben Kern
Year: Freshman
Height: 5-10
Weight: 160
Position: Defender
Hometown: Charlotte, NC
High School: Weddington HS

Before Air Force
ODP: Played for the North Carolina Olympic Development Program for three years ... coached by Dustin Fonder ... played on Region III team for two years ... traveled to Guadalajara, Mexico with region team ... coach was Trevor Adair.

US Soccer Academy: Played for the Charlotte Soccer Academy for three years ... team captain ... team had highest winning percentage in the country entering playoffs in 2010-11.

Club: Played for South Charlotte Soccer Association for five years ... team captain ... three-time state champions ... two-time region III champions ... two national championship appearances.

High School: Four-year letterwinner in soccer ... first-team all-state as a senior ... two-time first-team all-conference and all-region selection ... member of Beta Club ... high school soccer coach was Powell Williams.

Coach Hill's Comments:
Ben joins us from North Carolina where he played for the Charlotte Soccer Academy as an outside back and sometimes in the midfield. He has the ability to get forward from this position and effective on both ends of the ball. He will add needed depth to our back line and compete for a starting position and should see game time. His technical ability and tenacity will make him a great asset for Air Force soccer over the next four years.

Jacob LaPorte
Year: Freshman
Height: 5-7
Weight: 145
Position: Defender
Hometown: Monrovia, CA
High School: St. Francis HS

Before Air Force
USAFA Prep School: Played for Marcus Corbett at the Prep School.

US Soccer Academy: Played for the Arsenal FC Academy ... led team to 18-6-2 record and a conference championship in 2009 ... coach was PJ Brown.

High School: Three-year letterwinner in soccer ... first-team all-league as a senior team defensive MVP ... first-team all-CIF ... all-area selection.

Coach Hill's Comments:
Jake comes to the program from the LA Galaxy Academy and loves to compete. He is a crafty player that understands the game well. He was a standout at the prep school last year and his experience and leadership, along with his composure on the ball, will make him a leader on and off the field for this incoming class.

Abinadi Samayoa
Year: Freshman
Height: 5-10
Weight: 165
Position: Forward
Hometown: Kaysville, UT
High School: Davis HS

Before Air Force
USAFA Prep School: Played for Marcus Corbett at the Prep School.

ODP: Played for the Utah State Olympic Development Program from 2006-09 ... also played on the Region IV travel team from 2009-11.

Club: Played for the La Roca Futbol Club.

High School: Four-year letterwinner in soccer ... team captain as a senior ... helped team to the 5A Region Championship in 2010 ... high school soccer coach was Souli Phonghongsavath.

Coach Hill's Comments:
"Beanie" comes in from La Roca by way of the USAFA Prep School. His strength up top has improved greatly, and we expect him to push our senior forwards for playing time. He has a natural nose for the goal and will score for us.

Joseph Speshock
Year: Freshman
Height: 6-0
Weight: 175
Position: Goalkeeper
Hometown: Chandler, AZ
High School: St. Mary's Catholic HS

Before Air Force
ODP: Played for the Arizona Olympic Development Program from 2006-10 ... coaches were Phil English and Luke Roberts ... traveled to Goteborg, Sweden and placed fifth at the Gothia Cup in 2007 ... super Y national selection in 2010 and '12 ... invited to train with the U.S. Soccer National Team coaches in 2011.

US Soccer Academy: Played for Real Salt Lake - Arizona from 2010-12 ... coaches were Michael Munoz, Michael Rabasca and Martin Vasquez ... finished in second place in the SoCal Division and third at the USSDA Nationals in Milwaukee, Wis. ... goalkeeper for the Real Salt Lake team at the MLS Generation Adidas Cup in Dallas, Texas.

Club: Played for Arizona FC and Sereno Soccer Club from 1999-2010 ... coaches were Michael Rabasca, Bryan Sabato, Patrick Jackson and Jim Wallace.

High School: Two-year letterwinner in soccer ...also played football and baseball ... named most improved player as a sophomore in baseball ... member of National Honor Society ... high school soccer coach was Mark Schifano.

Coach Hill's Comments:
Coming to us from Real Salt Lake Academy, Joey will be ready to use his great shot stopping ability to compete for time in goal this year and add depth to this position.

Mark Talan
Year: Freshman
Height: 5-7
Weight: 154
Position: Midfielder
Hometown: Elk Grove, CA
High School: Laguna Creek HS

Before Air Force
Transfer from UCSD ... played club soccer ... helped team to NCSS national championship.

ODP: Member of the Olympic Development Program's District VI pool in 2006.

Club: Played for Elk Grove Everton from 2008-11 ... two-time team captain ... also played for Elk Grove Attack ('07) and Elk Grove United (2000-06).

High School: Three-year letterwinner in soccer ... two-time team captain ... team MVP as a senior ... Army Athlete of the Year at his high school as a senior ... Most Inspirational Player as a junior ... AP scholar ... high school soccer coach was Donald Jacobs.

Coach Hill's Comments:
"Tony" comes from a great soccer family and joins the Falcon soccer program from Northern California by way of UC San Diego. We look for Tony to continue to develop in our program this year and compete for a position as we lose a lot of experience next season.

Luke Villamaria
Year: Freshman
Height: 5-9
Weight: 160
Position: Midfielder
Hometown: Temple, TX
High School: Belton HS

Before Air Force
US Soccer Academy: Played for the Lonestar Developmental Academy from 2009-11 ... coaches were Bruce Talbot and Sean Babb.

Club: Played for Lonestar Soccer Club (2007-12) and Centex Storm Soccer Club (2004-07) ... helped team to state championship in '08 ... also won Disney Cup in 2010 ... coaches were Bruce Talbot, Sean Babb and Monty Clark.

High School: Three-year letterwinner in soccer ... district and team MVP as a senior ... first-team all-region and all-area selection as a senior ... played in the Texas All-Star game ... two-time first-team all-district pick ... three-time academic all-district ... member of National Honor Society ... high school soccer coach was Tarcisio Mosnia.

Coach Hill's Comments:
Luke comes to us from Austin where he played for Lonestar SC Academy. We expect him to develop this year and quickly adapt to the college game. He is a very good functional outside midfielder and once at game speed will compete with our experienced players for game time in the outside midfield position.

Alex Warren
Year: Freshman
Height: 5-9
Weight: 170
Position: Midfielder
Hometown: Avon, IN
High School: Covenant Christian HS

Before Air Force
USAFA Prep School: Played for coach Marcus Corbett at the Prep School.

Club: Played for four years ... helped team to Indiana state championship.

High School: Four-year letterwinner in soccer ... also lettered in track ... two-time National Christian School All-Alerican ... two-time first-team all-city selection ... first-team all-district and honorable mention all-state as a senior ... league MVP ... member of National Honor Society ... high school soccer coach was John Creighton.

Coach Hill's Comments:
The anchor of the prep school midfield last year, Alex should push our current experienced midfielders this year, and we are expecting him to fill some big shoes as he transitions to the speed of play at the college level.